Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-08-17

better of me for once, "you need not
hut it.
Violet looked st me in surprised
way.
''I-I-am not an eavesdropper, vi
our visitor has to say to Mrs. Ed
"Vieitor?"
"Come. Do you not know that
some one came IN ?"
"Mr. Freeman. there's not q soulin
the house but ourselves"
I smiled, but didn't detain her. And
yet could not help saying as she left
the room, "Say to Mrs. Edmunds
that | am looking for q special mes
sage soon."
As Violet closed the door softly after
her, fancied she gave me q startled
glance. AS for myself, [ could not sit
down again. [ paused IN the act OF
pouring the cream into my tea-and,
holding til 1ainty pitcher in my hand
list 9ned vainly, until | remembered
that the door was closed. Then [
placed the salver upon the table near
the door and paced the room.
What did it mean? Why had Eleanor
called on Mrs. Edmunds, and at that
hour? 1 looked at the clock on the
mantel. 1t was after 6. And how did
she come? Curiosity was consuming
me. Mrs. Edmunds might laugh at
me-let her laugh at my impatience. [
said to myself, as rang the bell. The
maid came quickly in response to the
summons. [ pointed to the toast,
biscuit and tea, as [ said:
"Tell Mrs. Edmunds that desire to
see her at her earliest convenience"
/ suppose the excitement that I ex-
perienced was revealed in my face,
when, after unsconscionable delay,
Mrs. Edmunds appeared. [ always
go direct to my point, so, without cir
cumlocution, said:
Chow did Miss Tottenham come
here?"
"Miss Tottenham Mrs. Edmunds
started--it was almost imperceptible,
but the well-guarded eyes revealed sur
prise to my questioning look.
eyes. | thought she came here's
she not in the house?"
"Not that [ am aware of, Mr.. Free
man. If any visitor were admitted [
would surely know it,
She looked at. me so calmly; there
was SO much candor in her expression;
her manner denoted SO much conf
dence in her mildly expressed opinion
that l was compelled, in self-defense,
to excuse myself in some way. It was
well had not uttered what was on
my tongue. Had / asserted that |
had heard my name spoken, and by
Eleanor, she would have smiled, posi-
bly, credited me with less common
sense than possess.
81 am, dare say, the victim of g.
strange nallucination-but [ did think
[ heard Miss Tottenham's voice. [
dare say it was some sound made by
the wind. There is fearful tempest
tonight"
cit is dreadful-awful. Mr.. freeman.
Possibly YOU heard me speaking to
Violet or Fanny"
out saying a word more than was nee
essary, while II fell, rather than sat,
upon my easy-chair, in stupor. If
ever ear was certain, / had heard my
name, and it was spoken by Eleanor
Tottenham, my betrothed. Or was it
fancy-had my sense played me O.
trick? Had sound, when the winds
were clustering and the air biting, re-
solved itself into such resemblance of
her voice? 1t must be. Any other
theory was preposterous-silly In the
extreme. Why, said to myself, how
could Eleanor travel from Crutchly to
Rutger, twenty eight miles, In such
weather, and what errand could be so
important as to warrant her coming?
Ii she came, who accompanied her?
Not her father. His caution, his care
for her, was a proverb.
As the rudy light fell upon the walls,
lighting up my rooms with warm,
cheerful glow, sat upright, and slow
~ admitted to myself that [ was mis-
taken. looked around upon the OBJ
jects SO familiar to my eyes, and mar
veled at the absurd idea that I had
now dismissed. [ said to myself, as
moved my arms and crossed my feet
before the fender, 81 have been dream
ing, or doing; the sound | heard was
made in the hall, or it WAS that chill
blast that penetrated the hall and
blew the door OPEN"
There was q strange sound in the
hall even as pondered. I walked to
my door and opened it. 1t was Mrs.
Edmunds' voice, louder than I had
ever heard it. She was calling to
Fanny, and afterwards addressed Vio-
let, saying: "Will you 60 up and ask
Mr.. Freeman to come DOWN."
[ was seated when Violet knocked
and entered.
"Mrs. Edmunds wishes to speak to
you, sir"
1t was a trife, but have observed
the most confident Of women betray
nervousness where men smile. 81 am
sorry to have to disturb you, Mr..
Freeman, but there is something in
the cellar, it is not q cat Or dog, and
can't prevail upon either of the girls
to 60 down with me-"
Taking g. lamp, entered the cellar
alone, and brought up a hen that was
speedily deposited in an clubhouse by
the laughing girls.
Neither OF these girls will go to bed
early for me, Mr.. Fireman." said MRS.